Cats who have been injured will often avoid weight bearing on the affected leg to protect it, which could indicate broken bones.
If your cat appears injured, it is important to bring them immediately to a veterinarian for examination under sedation. They can then assess the extent of its injury and suggest a treatment plan.
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1. Your cat is limping
Cats are known for their agility and grace, yet this can put them at risk of injury. Cats frequently break legs due to falls, fights with other cats or getting hit by cars; unfortunately it can often be difficult to detect an injury until there are obvious symptoms such as limping or an unusual gait pattern.
Cats often avoid weight-bearing on injured limbs and use all four legs to get around instead, which should be taken seriously as a telltale sign that their leg has broken or fractured. They might also become unable to jump, which requires using their front leg for support.
Swelling and bruising from injuries are more visible when your cat avoids placing weight on an affected leg or has an obvious limp, prompting you to seek medical advice from Cordova vet. Depending on the severity of their fracture, your vet might suggest performing x-rays under sedation to better identify and treat their injury.
If a bone has broken through the skin and been exposed, do not try to push it back in as this could cause infection. Instead, keep your cat as still as possible and cover the injury with clean gauze for immediate care. Moving or rough handling will only aggravate an already compromised condition so it is vitally important that as soon as any symptoms of broken leg appear it be taken immediately to a veterinarian for evaluation and care.
Once at the vet, your cat will undergo a physical examination in order to detect any additional injuries or signs of shock, while also getting an x-ray taken of their leg to assess how severe a break it is and develop a treatment plan accordingly. If surgery or cast or splint therapy becomes necessary due to severe damage sustained from an impactful breakage, they might recommend it instead as being the more humane option for your feline friend.
Basic feline first aid and prompt veterinary attention can speed the healing of broken leg injuries in cats. Your Cordova veterinarian will discuss which treatment methods will lead to full healing.
2. Your cat is reluctant to be touched
Cats can become injured while playing too hard or accidentally stepping on sharp objects, getting into fights with other cats or wildlife, being hit by cars, or getting hit while crossing roads. Such injuries often result in broken legs in either their lower extremity (paw) or hind leg; symptoms may range from obvious to subtle changes; any change in your cat’s behavior warrants calling a veterinarian immediately.
One telltale sign of a broken leg is when its affected limb droops unsteadily or doesn’t bear weight, often followed by swelling, discoloration of skin or what’s known as an “open fracture” (a wound with bones protrusion through it).
Other subtle signs of leg injuries in cats include decreased appetite and the inability to groom the affected area, decreased activity levels and disinterest in playing as well as vocalizing more frequently as they experience pain and discomfort.
If you notice any of these symptoms in an injured cat, first approach them gently and if aggression arises restrain them with a blanket or towel until they relax. Next, run your fingers down their leg to assess sensitivity or pain – starting from toes up towards limb. If possible rub gently to soothe soreness and check for bruises or swelling as well as dangling limbs.
When cats are experiencing pain, they can become wary of anyone touching them – leading to aggressive displays such as hissing and growling. By keeping calm and proceeding slowly during any examination of an injury, a more accurate evaluation of its nature can take place.
After assessing your cat’s injury, the vet will devise an individualized treatment plan. This may involve taking x-rays or administering sedation to confirm whether there has been a break and conducting an in-depth exam of injured limb. They may also prescribe pain medication as well as antibiotics in order to protect against infection.
3. Your cat is not walking
Cats are playful creatures by nature, which can sometimes get them into trouble. Even indoor cats may experience accidents; when this occurs it’s essential to recognize its severity quickly and seek medical treatment promptly – although recognizing if your feline friend has broken a leg may be challenging but there are certain telltale symptoms you should keep an eye out for.
Signs of broken legs in cats include limping or refusing to put weight on an affected limb, holding their limb at an odd angle while sitting or lying down, or refusing to use that leg entirely. If any of these symptoms appear in your cat, it would be prudent to visit a veterinarian immediately for an exam and x-rays.
When you notice bones poking through the skin on a cat’s leg, cover them immediately with clean gauze and take your cat directly to a veterinarian as soon as possible. Try keeping them calm during their examination to avoid them being clawed or bit, as well as not trying to manipulate or manipulate any parts surrounding their break.
Once a vet has examined your cat, they may prescribe pain medication and/or sedation in order to make them as comfortable as possible while providing more thorough examination and x-raying of their organs and structures.
As soon as a veterinarian has assessed your pet’s situation, they will typically splint his/her broken leg to help ensure its stability during recovery – something especially common if their injury was due to major trauma such as car accident or fall.
If the fracture was severe enough to result in open fractures where pieces of bone have penetrated through the skin, surgery will likely be required in order for your cat to fully heal. A veterinarian will use screws, pins or plates in order to hold together disjointed bone pieces until they have completely mended themselves.
As soon as you suspect that your cat has broken its leg, seeking medical advice immediately should be your priority. Cats are adept at hiding pain; therefore it’s vitally important that a cat who has suffered a fracture receives proper medical treatment in order to make a full recovery and have proper rehabilitation in place for the future. Never leave one untreated.
4. Your cat is losing weight
Cats can be susceptible to falls, injuries from car accidents and other issues that lead to broken bones. Although the risk may be reduced by keeping your cat indoors, injuries still happen occasionally and it’s wise to monitor them closely in case something appears abnormal – limping or any noticeable injuries is one telltale sign something might be amiss and your vet needs to see it immediately; but not all cats with a broken leg will show symptoms right away; some may just refuse to use an injured limb and hide or reluctantly use it or have behavioral changes such as decreased appetite or increased anxiety or even aggression from them!
Vets will typically be able to determine if your cat has experienced either a simple sprain or broken bone through physical examination and x-rays, and in more serious cases surgery may be required in order to stabilize bones further using plates or pins. They will also prescribe pain medications so as to ease your cat’s suffering as the bones heal.
If your cat has an open fracture or severe bone trauma, their veterinarian will need to envelop them in a blanket or board to keep them secure while conducting their examination. You should cover any bleeding areas or any visible bone with clean gauze to reduce infection risks.
Once a vet has completed their examination, they will develop a treatment plan. Uncomplicated closed fractures may require nothing more than a splint and heavy bandage for care; while severe breaks may need external fixators use to set without surgery; which uses several short metal pins pushed through skin into fragments of bone before connecting via bars and clamps.
Once their bones have fully healed, your cat can resume normal activities. They should remain indoors if their broken leg was on their back, and monitored carefully throughout their recovery period to make sure everything goes as smoothly as possible. Make sure they receive plenty of treats and chin scritches during this process!